Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Neural Mechanisms of Startle Behavior pp 93–131Cite as

The Cockroach Escape Response

  • Chapter

Abstract

In the American cockroach Periplaneta americana, remarkably low velocity wind puffs evoke a running escape response oriented away form the source of the wind puff. This behavior and its underlying neural components provide considerable advantages for neurobiological studies. These include a quantifiably predictable behavior and numerous neural elements that are identifiable from animal to animal. The behavior requires that the cockroach not only must detect a wind stimulus, but also it must be able to determine the direction from which the wind originated. The information on wind direction is then used to establish a behavioral decision; that is, where and how to move. Far from being a simple movement, even the initial turn involves the coordination of six legs each of which possesses a complex musculature controlling five separate leg parts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bentley, D., 1977, Control of cricket song patterns by descending interneurons, J. Comp Physiol 116: 19–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blagburn, J. M., and Beadle, D. J., 1982, Morphology of identified cercai afferents and giant interneurons in the hatchling cockroach Periplaneta americana, J. Exp. Biol. 97: 421–426.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Callec, J. J., 1974, Synaptic transmission in the central nervous system of insects, in: Insect Neurobiology ( J. Treherne, ed.), American Elsevier, New York, pp. 120–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Callec, J. J., Guillet, P. C., Pinchon, Y., and Boistel, J., 1971, Further studies on synaptic transmission in insects. II. Relations between sensory information and its synaptic integration at the level of a single giant axon in the cockroach, J. Exp. Biol. 55: 123–149.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Camhi, J. M., 1976, Non-rhythmic sensory inputs: Influence of locomotory outputs in arthropods, in: Neural Control of Locomotion, ( R. M. Herman, S. Grillner, P. S. G. Stein, and D. G. Stuart, eds.), Plenum Press, New York, pp. 561–586.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camhi, J. M., and Nolen, T. G., 1981, Properties of the escape system of cockroaches during walking, J. Comp. Physiol. 142: 339–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camhi, J. M., and Tom, W., 1978, The escape behavior of the cockroach Periplaneta americana. I. Turning response to wind puffs, J. Comp. Physiol. 128: 193–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camhi, J M., Tom, W., and Volman, S., 1978, The escape behavior of the cockroach Periplanets americana. II. Detection of natural predators by air displacement, J. Comp. Physiol. 128: 203–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dagan, D., and Camhi, J. M., 1979, Responses to wind recorded from the cercal nerve of the cockroach. II. Directional selectivity of the sensory neurons innervating single columns of filiform hairs, J. Comp. Physiol. 133: 103–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dagan, D., and Parnas, I., 1970, Giant fibre and small fibre pathways involved in evasive response of the cockroach Periplaneta americana, J. Exp. Biol. 52: 313–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dagan, D., and Parnas, I., 1974, After effects of spikes in cockroach giant axons, J. Neurobiol. 5: 95–105.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dagan, D., and Same, Y., 1978, Evidence for the cholinergic nature of cockroach giant fibers: Use of specific degeneration, J. Comp Physiol. 126: 157–160.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dagan, D., and Volman, S., 1982, Sensory basis for directional wind detection in first instar cockroaches Periplaneta americana, J. Comp. Physiol. 147: 471–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daley, D. L., 1982, Neural basis of wind-receptive fields of cockroach giant interneurons, Brain Res. 238: 211–216.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daley, D. L., and Delcomyn, F., 1980a, Modulation of excitability of cockroach giant interneurons during walking I. Simultaneous excitation and inhibition, J. Comp. Physiol. 138: 231–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daley, D. L., and Delcomyn, F., 1980b, Modulation of excitability of cockroach giant interneurons during walking II. Central and peripheral components, J. Comp. Physiol. 138: 241–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daley, D. L., Vardi, N., Appignani, B., and Camhi, J. M., 1981, Morphology of the giant interneurons and cercal nerve projections of the American cockroach, J. Comp. Neurol. 196: 41–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delcomyn, F., and Daley, D. L., 1979, Central excitation of cockroach giant interneurons during walking, J. Comp. Physiol. 130: 39–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eaton, R. C., Lavender, W. A., and Wieland, C. M., 1982, Alternative neural pathways initiate fast-start responses following lesions of the Mauthner neuron in goldfish, J. Comp. Physiol. 145: 485–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farley, R. D., and Milburn, N. S., 1969, Structure and function of the giant fiber system in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, J. Insect Physiol. 15: 457–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fourtner, C. R., and Drewes, C. D., 1977, Excitation of the common inhibitory motor neurons: A possible role in the startle reflex of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, J. Neurobiol. 8: 477–489.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fourtner, C. R., and Randall, J. B., 1982, Studies on cockroach flight: The role of continuous neural activation of non-flight muscles, J. Exp. Zool. 221: 143–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Getting, P. A., Lennard, P. R., and Hume, R. I., 1980, Central pattern generator mediating swimming in Tritonia, I. Identification and synaptic interactions, J. Neurophysiol. 44: 151–164.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gnatzy, W., 1976, The ultrastructure of the thread-hair on the cerci of the cockroach Periplaneta americana L.: The intermoult phase, J. Ultrastruct. Res. 54: 124–134.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, C. L., and Smyth, T., 1971, Structural details of cockroach giant axons revealed by injected dye, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 40A: 295–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iles, J. F., 1972, Structure and synaptic activation of the fast coxal depressor motoneuron of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, J. Exp. Biol. 56: 647–656.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, D., Calabrese, R. L., and Wine, J. J., 1974, Presynaptic inhibition: Primary afferent depolarization in crayfish neurons, Science 186: 451–454.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, A. P., Krasne, F. B., and Wine, J. J., 1981, Interneurons between giant axons and motoneurons in crayfish escape circuitry, J. Neurophysiol. 45: 550–573.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krämer, K., and Markl, H., 1978, Flight-inhibition on ground contact in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana. I. Contact receptors and a model for their central connections, J. Insect Physiol. 24: 577–586.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krasne, F. B., 1965, Escape from recurring tactile stimulation in Branchioma vesiculosum, J. Exp. Biol. 42: 307–322.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krasne, F. B., and Wine, J. J., 1975, Extrinsic modulation of crayfish escape behavior, J. Exp. Biol. 63: 433–450.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lennard, P. R., Getting, P. A., and Hume, R. I., 1980, Central pattern generator mediating swimming in Tritonia. II. Initiation, maintenance and termination, J. Neurophysiol. 44: 165–173.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levine, R. B., and Murphey, R. K., 1980, Loss of inhibitory synaptic input to cricket sensory interneurons as a consequence of partial deafferentation, J. Neurophysiol. 43: 383–394.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto, S. G.. and Murphey, R. K., 1977a, The cercus-to-giant interneuron system of crickets. IV. Patterns of connectivity between receptors and the medial giant inter-neuron, J. Comp. Physiol. 119: 319–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto, S. G., and Murphey, R. K., 1977b, Sensory deprivation during development decreases the responsiveness of cricket interneurons, J. Physiol. 268: 533–548.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendenhall, B., and Murphey, R. K., 1974, The morphology of cricket giant interneurons, J. Neurobiol. 5: 565–580.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphey, R. K., and Levine, R. B., 1980, Mechanisms responsible for changes observed in response properties of partially deafferented insect interneurons, J. Neurophysiol. 43: 367–382.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphey, R. K., and Palka, J., 1974, Efferent control of cricket giant fibres, Nature 248: 249–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicklaus, R., 1965, Die Erregung einzelner Fadenhaare von Periplaneta americana in Abhängigkeit von der Grösse and Richtung der Auslenkung, Z. Vergl. Physiol. 50: 331–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orida, N., and Josephson, R. K., 1978, Peripheral control of responsiveness to auditory stimuli in giant fibres of crickets and cockroaches, J. Exp. Biol. 72: 153–164.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Palka, J., and Edwards, J. S., 1974, The cerci and abdominal giant fibres of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus. I. Regeneration and effects of chronic deprivation, Proc. R. Soc. (London) Ser. B. 185: 105–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palka, J., and Olberg, R., 1977, The cercus-to-giant interneurons system of crickets. III. Receptive field organization, J. Comp. Physiol. 119: 301–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palka, J., Levine, R., and Schubiger, M., 1977, The cercus-to-giant interneuron system of crickets. I. Some attributes of the sensory cells, J. Comp. Physiol. 119: 267–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parnas, I., and Dagan, D., 1971, Functional organization of giant axons in the central nervous system of insects: New aspects, in: Advances in Insect Physiology ( J. W. L. Beament, J. Treherne, and V. B. Wigglesworth, eds.), Academic Press, New York and London, pp. 95–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson, K. G., and Iles, J. F., 1970, Discharge patterns of coxal levator and depressor motoneurones of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, J. Exp. Biol. 52: 139–165.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Plummer, M. R., and Camhi, J. M., 1981, Discrimination of sensory signals from noise in the escape system of the cockroach: The role of wind acceleration, J. Comp. Physiol. 142: 347–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pumphrey, R., and Rawdon-Smith, A., 1936, Synchronized action potentials in the cereal nerve of the cockroach (Periplaneta americana) in response to auditory stimuli, J. Physiol. (London), 87: 4P - 5 P.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritzmann, R. E., 1981, Motor responses to paired stimulation of giant interneurons in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana. II. The ventral interneurons, J. Comp. Physiol. 143: 71–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritzmann, R. E., and Camhi, J. M., 1978, Excitation of leg motor neurons by giant inter- neurons in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, J. Comp. Physiol. 125: 305–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritzmann, R. E., and Pollack, A. J., 1981, Motor responses to paired stimulation of giant interneurons in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana. I. The dorsal interneurons, J. Comp. Physiol. 143: 61–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritzmann, R. E., Tobias, M. L., and Fourtner, C. R., 1980, Flight activity initiated via giant interneurons of the cockroach: Evidence for bifunctional trigger interneurons, Science 210: 443–445.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ritzmann, R. E., Pollack, A. J., and Tobias, M. L., 1982, Flight activity mediated by intracellular stimulation of dorsal giant interneurons of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, J. Comp. Physiol. 147: 313–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritzmann, R. E. Fourtner, C. R., and Pollack, A. J., 1983, Morphological and physiological identification of motor neurons innervating flight musculature in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, J. Exp. Zool. 225: 347–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, A., Krasne, F. B., Hagiwara, G., Wine, J. J., and Kramer, A. P., 1982, Segmental giant: Evidence for a driver neuron interposed between command and motor neurons in the crayfish escape system, J. Neurophysiol. 47: 761–781.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roeder, K., 1948, Organization of the ascending giant fiber system in the cockroach (Periplaneta americana), J. Exp. Zool. 108: 242–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roeder, K., 1967, Nerve Cells and Insect Behavior, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, I. J., 1976, Central inhibition of lateral line input in the medulla of the goldfish by neurones which control active body movements, J. Comp. Physiol. 111: 335–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schramek, J. E., 1970, Crayfish swimming: Alternating motor output and giant fiber activity, Science, 169: 698–700.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spira, M. E., Parnas, I., and Bergmann, F., 1969a, Organization of the giant axons of the cockroach Periplaneta americana, J. Exp. Biol. 50: 615–627.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spira, M. E., Parnas, I., and Bergmann, F., 1969b, Histological and electrophysiological studies on the giant axons of the cockroach Periplaneta americana, J. Exp. Biol. 50: 629–634.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spira, M. E., Yarom, Y., and Parnas, I., 1976, Modulation of spike frequency by regions of special axonal geometry and by synaptic inputs, J. Neurophysiol. 39: 882–899.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tobias, M., and Murphey, R. K., 1979, The response of the cereal receptors and identified interneurons in the cricket (Acheta domesticus) to airstreams, J. Comp. Physiol. 129: 51–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vardi, N., and Camhi, J. M., 1982a, Functional recovery from lesions in the escape system of the cockroach. I. Behavioral recovery, J. Comp. Physiol. 146: 291–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vardi, N., and Camhi, J. M., 1982b, Functional recovery from lesions in the escape system of the cockroach. II. Physiological recovery of the giant interneurons, J. Comp. Physiol. 146: 299–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westin, J., 1979, Responses to wind recorded from the cereal nerve of the cockroach Periplaneta americana. I. Response properties of single sensory neurons, J. Comp. Physiol. 133: 97–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westin, J., and Ritzmann, R. E., 1982, The effect of single giant interneuron lesions on wind-evoked motor responses in the cockroach Periplaneta americana, J. Neurobiol. 13: 127–139.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Westin, J., Langberg, J. J., and Camhi, J. M., 1977, Responses of giant interneurons of the cockroach Periplaneta americana to wind puffs of different directions and velocities, J. Comp. Physiol. 121: 307–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wine, J. J. and Krasne, F. B., 1972, Organization of escape behavior in the crayfish, J. Exp. Biol. 56: 1–18.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yarom, Y., and Spira, M. E., 1982, Extracellular potassium ions mediate specific neuronal interaction, Science 216: 80–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA

    Roy E. Ritzmann

Authors
  1. Roy E. Ritzmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Biology Group, Department of Biology, E.P.O., University of Colorado, 80309, Boulder, Colorado, USA

    Robert C. Eaton

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1984 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ritzmann, R.E. (1984). The Cockroach Escape Response. In: Eaton, R.C. (eds) Neural Mechanisms of Startle Behavior. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2286-1_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2286-1_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-2288-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-2286-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation